The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-02-05

his agitation. SIT is her choice. Mr. Elm
lerson,loyes her, and So"
Enough, saw no morer' cried poor Har
ley, springing to his feet. "You hav
studied well your lesson, but / do not TAX
my dismissal from your lips. Marian alon
shall,tell me The truth"
| Emotion choked his utterance, he clnche,
his hands, and turning suddenly, hurrie,
away,
4 ~ very ill-tempered young man," decid
ed Mrs. Porter, gazing after him with well
bred surprise. "But surely Marian vii
not bo rash enough to sacrifice all he
prospects for the sake of a man who ha
not dollar in the worlds save what he toll!
for daily. A journalist-bah! | wish 1t
had stayed away till affairs were settled, hc
annoys me-"
Truth to tell, the handsome, impassionet
face of the young man had touched 9
strange chord in the worldly woman's
breast.
But then, wealth Is substance" she
thought, and love-well, loye is nonsense.
| only wish he would so away without see
ing her again"
This Harley Ayre did not do, however.
He remained at the Mansion House till
evening, a most miserable being; and it
was withga beating heart he saw Marian
enter the brilliant hotel parlor that night.
She was as fair as lily, in white gos-
samer robe with pale rosebuds on her
breast, and a wreath in her shining hair.
She saw that still figure out there in the
shadow, and while later came to him with
a scarf twined over her head and shoulders.
Harley, do you want waltz ?" she
asked lightly.
His hand fell heavily on her arm, and
his voice sounded almost harsh.
"No; l have waited to ask you ques-
tion-"
"Only one ?'' she said tri1ingly.
Listen" he said, with look that
awed her. "Will you marry Warren En-
crson p
81 gave him my promise this afternoon" I"
she replied softly, with her golden head
bowed.
"False p' he groaned. "And II have
cherished your image all the while; have
deluded myself with hopes that No, it
is you that has deceived me. will not
plead with you but listen as you have
triiled with me; as you have proven cruel
and heartless; as YOU have robbed ne of all
hope, all joy, and blighted my life, so
surely will work my revenge.
His words sounded baleful, and the girl
sh,ank from the wild light in his eyes.
Harley" she began; but he threw her
aside, and tor one instant lowered above
her with look on his face that would
have chilled a braver heart
shall have my revenge, Marian Eliot
remember that" he said between his
teeth, and the next instant was gone.
In the fall Marian was welded to the
wealthy Southerner, and in his Georgian
home spent four years of-happiness ? No;
say rather gratitied ambition, for happiness
is impossible for those who entertain re-
morse.
How often did she see in fancy the hand
some, manly face Of Harley AyTe
How many times did she recall his part
ing words with a shiver, for somehow il
seemed to her that through him she would
meet punishment for that one false, cruel
deed of her lifetime.
Warren Emerson bestowed upon her
loye, devotion and luxury; had her heart
been truly his, she might have forgotten
the past, but when it was too late she re-
allied that heart and hand should go to-
gether,. and gold could not purchase con-
tent. ......
At the end Of four years time her hus-
band contracted fever during trip
through Florida, and after brief illness
left her alone in the world with her little
son, a miniature copy Of himself. ., ..--
Tho young widow sent for her old friend
and chaperon, Mrs. Porter, then, and with
little Eliot they began a tour that brought
them at the beginning of the next summer
season to the Mansion House, the scene Of
Marian's first social triumphs and CON
quests,
Pretty Eliot, with his dusky curls and
seal-brOwn eyes, was made an idol of
among the guests; but the sad-faced moth
er in her sable robes drew herself away
from the gay throng that sought to draw
her into its midst; and those who had
known her as the bright belle Of the past,
wondered at the change.
''She is as cold and Indifferent now as a
marble statue" they said. "Grief for her
husbands death has wrought the change,
and she cares for no one now but her little
son."
In truth, dark-eyed Eliot was the only
person for whom Marian showed the slight
est affection or regard, and to him was
given a wealth of love that surprised those
who deemed her cold, and filled Mrs. Por-
ter with misgivings.
"YOu are too idolatrous," she said one
day. at is almost wicked, Marian, to al
low yourself to be so absorbed by one pas
sion. If anything should happen TO little
Eliot"
"NO-EOr cried the mother with a
shiver, Nothing can happen to him God
would nor be so cruelF'
!. Wa only Cay after she L@3 uttered